He goes on to explain each, but it’s a fairly paper-thin
case if you ask me. After all, it’s not like Oregon is churning out top-10
recruiting classes year after year, or that Stanford isn’t a well-coached
Pac-12 powerhouse themselves. I’m not convinced Kelly will utilize the
quarterback position exactly the same at the next level, either.

However, I agree there are some legitimate concerns
surrounding Kelly, who is already being likened to a Steve Spurrier. Spurrier
left the University of Florida for the Washington Redskins, where he bottomed
out quickly and spectacularly, one of many coaches from the college ranks that fell on their face in the big leagues.

There are a lot of questions that come with hiring college
coaches with no NFL experience, and whether their schemes will translate is
only the beginning. Chip Kelly now must prove he has the work ethic and can
withstand the scrutiny that comes with the territory.

"I think anybody who knows me or who has played with or against me along the road here, knows that I am not that kind of player," Manning said, according to a statement released by the Flyers. "I am not out there intentionally trying to hurt people. I'm a guy who plays the game hard and I take pride in that."

Gretzky didn't mind seeing that fire in McDavid, saying competitiveness is part of what makes the great ones great. And he said the targeting comes with the territory of being a superstar. It was something he and Mario Lemieux dealt with, too.

"And Connor, he's going to get tested every night, but this is not new for him," Gretzky said Friday at the NHL board of governors meetings. "He's been tested since he was a kid and then playing junior hockey and now in the NHL and he's always responded and done his part."